“I see you rallied the troops,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
“Lynn made the calls. This is what we do any time one of us is in trouble,” Helen said simply. “Every one of those women is prepared to tell the judge what an excellent mother you are. Collectively they carry a lot of weight in this town.”
Gabe came in just then, dressed in a suit and tie that made him look as if he’d just stepped off the cover of some slick men’s fashion magazine. He’d even shaved off that sexy stubble she’d come to love. She stared at him, practically tongue-tied. He caught her eye and winked as he stopped to speak to her mother, who looked almost as stunned as Adelia knew she must.
Beside her, Helen chuckled. “Something tells me you just had a mental flash of what Gabe would look like on your wedding day.”
Adelia turned a shocked look on her. “Don’t even say something like that. What if Ernesto overheard you?”
“Oh, so what if he did?” Helen said. “It serves him right to have to sit here and see that another man values you the way you should be valued.”
“It may serve him right,” Adelia agreed, “but is it a good legal strategy?”
Helen grinned. “Anything that rattles him is a good legal strategy,” she said, then nodded toward Gabe. “Ernesto didn’t expect he’d clean up so well, I’m sure. Just one more lesson in not underestimating the opposition. There’s no one in this courtroom right now who looks more respectable than Gabe.”
Adelia was taken aback by her assessment. “Did you take him out and buy him that suit first thing this morning?”
“Didn’t have to,” Helen said. “I just suggested if he owned a suit, this would be a good occasion to trot it out. Sexy as he looks in those tight jeans and T-shirts he usually wears, I told him a suit might give a better impression in court.”
“I notice you didn’t say the same thing to Henry Davis. He looks as if he came here straight from the construction site.”
“Henry’s not the one Ernesto is after,” Helen reminded her just as the bailiff called the court to order. “He looks exactly like what he is, an honest, hardworking man. That works nicely in our favor, too.”
As soon as the judge was seated, Ernesto’s attorney was on his feet. “Your Honor, given that this is a custody issue involving minor children, we move that the courtroom be closed to all but those directly involved.”
Helen leveled a withering look in his direction. “My apologies, Your Honor, but when my client’s family and friends learned of what her ex-husband is trying to pull today, they all insisted on being here to testify on her behalf. I intend to call every one of them, if Your Honor needs convincing that she is the best person to continue to have custody of her children.”
“They may stay,” he ruled. “Now let’s get on with this. I’ve looked over my earlier ruling in this case.” He turned to Ernesto. “What’s changed?”
Once again, Ernesto’s attorney stood. “We’ve learned that their mother has been subjecting the children to the influence of a man known to be a troublemaker. It is no longer a safe environment.”
“That’s nuts!” Selena shouted, standing up and staring belligerently at her father. “Gabe’s a better influence than you ever were.”
The judge’s gavel slammed down. “Young lady, I won’t have my courtroom disrupted.”
“How about disrespected, then?” she said, fighting off her grandmother’s attempts to pull her back into her seat. “That’s what my father’s doing. He’s in here lying to you.”
Helen was on her feet. “I’m sorry, Your Honor. As you can imagine, emotions are running high.”
He nodded. He glanced down at the papers in front of him, then returned his gaze to Selena. “You are the oldest child, Selena Hernandez?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Come up here,” he ordered, then gestured for her to take a seat in the witness box. He glanced at Adelia and at Ernesto. “Any objections?”
Ernesto opened his mouth, but his attorney immediately silenced him.
“Okay, then,” the judge said.
Though she looked scared, Selena squared her shoulders and walked forward, casting a defiant look at her father. For once Ernesto actually looked shaken.
Adelia glanced at Helen. “Shouldn’t you do something?”
“I don’t think so,” Helen said. “I think Selena knows exactly what she’s doing. I’ll intercede if I see a need to.”
“Young lady, why do you say that your father is lying?”
“Because he’s trying to convince you he wants what’s best for my sisters, brother and me. He doesn’t. All he wants to do is hurt my mom more than he already has.”
“Sometimes children don’t know what’s best for them,” the judge said.
“Maybe not, but I’m not exactly a kid. I may be only thirteen, but thanks to my dad I know a lot about the way people cheat and lie and break their vows. If you ask him, I’ll bet he’ll try to tell you how much he loves us.”
“I’m sure he will,” the judge agreed. “Fathers love their children.”
“Then why hasn’t he seen me even once since the divorce? He’ll say it’s because I took my mom’s side, but so what? And what about my sisters and brother? They didn’t take sides. And they wait every weekend for him to show up and spend time with them. He did a couple of times, but I can’t even remember the last time he didn’t break a promise to them.”
The judge’s expression darkened as he turned to Ernesto. “Is that true?”
“She,” Ernesto began, pointing at Adelia, “has turned them against me. That’s why I want the custody arrangement changed, so I can get my kids back before it’s too late.”
“You’re the one who doesn’t show up,” Selena retorted. “Mom’s never said a bad word against you, not one. In fact, she’s told us we should spend time with you. It’s not her fault that I don’t want to be with a liar and a cheat.”
Helen did stand then. “Your Honor, I think you can see that Mr. Hernandez’s words and actions don’t match. If you doubt that Selena is telling the truth, there are other witnesses here who can back her up.”
“I imagine they can,” the judge said wearily. “That still leaves the matter of this person that Mr. Hernandez says is a bad influence.” Again, he glanced at his notes. “Gabe Franklin, I believe.” He glanced around the courtroom until his gaze landed on Gabe. “I believe we’ve met before. Stand up, if you would.”
Gabe stood. “We have, Your Honor.”
“Under less than favorable circumstances, as I recall,” the judge said, causing Adelia to wince, even as Selena looked indignant.
“I’ll bet it was because of his mom,” Selena said, jumping to Gabe’s defense. “Whatever he did, it was trying to protect his mom, so you can’t hold that against him.”
The judge actually smiled at her fierce reaction. “No, I can’t,” he told her gently.
“I just thought you should know,” Selena said.
“I’ve heard only good things about you since you got back to town,” the judge told Gabe.
“I hope so, Your Honor,” Gabe replied.
“He’s the best,” Selena chimed in. “He helps us with our homework. He makes my mom laugh. He even wore a tiara for my sisters when they had a tea party.”
The judge didn’t even try to hide his grin. “I believe I saw a picture of that occasion.”
“I know he’s not our dad,” Selena said. “But it’s been like having a real family with him around. Please don’t make him go away.” She regarded the judge with an earnest expression. “He said he’d go if that’s what it took to keep us with our mom. That’s how much he cares about us.”
“Did he now?” the judge said softly, casting an approving look toward Gabe.
Ernesto’s attorney was on his feet. “
If this show is over, could we get back to deciding the facts of the situation?”
The judge shot him a daunting look. “I think I have all the facts I need. The custody arrangement will remain as is. However, we will readdress this in three months.” He turned to Ernesto and warned, “If you continue to neglect your children or try to use them as weapons in your fight with your ex-wife, I’ll consider taking away the visitation rights you do have. Am I clear?”
Ernesto was clearly too furious to reply, so his attorney said, “Yes, Your Honor.”
“Then we’re done here,” the judge said. He turned to Selena. “I’ve seen adults who didn’t understand right and wrong as well as you do, young lady. Good job here today.”
As soon as he’d left the courtroom, the Sweet Magnolias erupted into cheers. Selena ran straight to her mother’s arms.
Adelia felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t have been more proud of her daughter. “You saved the day.”
“I just told the truth.” She looked around. “Where’s Gabe?”
Adelia glanced toward the back of the courtroom, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found. A sinking sensation settled in the pit of her stomach. She had this terrible feeling that she might have won the war with Ernesto today, only to lose the battle to keep Gabe in her life.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Gabe had been so moved by what Selena said to the judge, he’d practically run from the courthouse to keep anyone from seeing the tears gathering in his eyes. Sure, she’d said much the same the night before, but hearing her declare it in public had shaken him. There was a lot of pressure in trying to live up to the kind of faith she’d so openly placed in him.
How could he even be thinking about trying to take care of a family when he’d spent a lot of his adult years barely taking care of himself? He’d been rebelling, albeit unknowingly until now, against having so much responsibility heaped on him as a kid. He wasn’t convinced he was ready—or even worthy enough—to take on more.
After he went back to the Serenity Inn, changed into his work clothes and headed for the construction site, he stopped by the hardware store to pick up a few things.
“How’d it go in court?” Ronnie Sullivan asked, proving that everyone in town was no doubt up-to-date on Ernesto’s latest attempt to turn Adelia’s life upside down. “I know Dana Sue was there, but I imagine she went straight to work at the restaurant. I haven’t heard from her.”
Gabe filled him in, figuring the news would be all over town in the blink of an eye, anyway. “Adelia kept custody of the kids and Ernesto got his wrist slapped by the judge.”
Ronnie took off the glasses he’d been wearing to read an invoice, then frowned as he studied Gabe more intently. “Then why do you look so down in the dumps?”
“Just some stuff Selena said in court,” Gabe told him. “It hit home how much she’s counting on me. I don’t know if I can live up to all those expectations. It’s one thing for me and Adelia to try to work things out and fail, but I don’t think I could bear it if I let those kids down.” He met Ronnie’s gaze. “They’re great kids. They deserve the best—you know what I mean?”
Rather than dismissing his worries, Ronnie nodded. “I get that, Gabe. I really do. The truth is, though, that nobody knows if they’re any good at being a parent until they’re in the thick of it. If someone tells you they know exactly what to do in any and all conditions, they’re crazy. Just when you figure you’ve handled one crisis, another one will crop up and blindside you.”
Since Ronnie was a grandfather now and seemed to have a rock-solid marriage, Gabe listened.
“Just look at Dana Sue and me,” Ronnie continued. “Our daughter nearly died because we messed up so bad. Thankfully Annie made it through all the terrible side effects of her anorexia. She’s married to her childhood sweetheart and a mom now. Dana Sue and I are back together again and happier than ever for having survived that nightmare. I thank God every day for giving all of us a second chance.”
“I hadn’t heard about any of that,” Gabe said, shaken.
“I’m surprised, even though most of it probably happened while you were gone. The day Dana Sue chased me out of the house with a cast-iron skillet is one of those stories the guys like to repeat when they want to get under my skin.”
“She didn’t!”
“She sure did,” Ronnie said, laughing. Then his expression sobered. “Here’s the condensed version. I acted like a fool, Dana Sue kicked me out and our divorce rocked Annie’s world so badly she developed an eating disorder. She was still in her teens, but she actually had a heart attack.”
“Annie? Kids don’t have heart attacks,” Gabe said, trying to imagine how terrifying that must have been for Ronnie and Dana Sue.
“Well, mine did,” Ronnie said. “That anorexia is a nasty business. When I found out about it, I thought my own heart would stop. In fact, I prayed it would if that would keep Annie alive. I discovered that God’s not interested in making bargains. He has His own plans. That crisis brought me back to town and reminded me that everything I wanted was right here. I never should have left.”
He met Gabe’s gaze. “What I’m trying to tell you is that you will make mistakes as a parent if you decide to take on Adelia’s family. But if your love is strong enough, you get through the tough times together. I know the worst time in my life while Annie was in the hospital turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me, too, because Dana Sue and I found our way back to each other.”
Gabe absorbed what Ronnie was saying. Though Ronnie had obviously intended his story to make the prospect of parenting a little less scary, Gabe didn’t find it reassuring. If a couple as deeply in love as Ronnie and Dana Sue had been back in the day could fail so badly, what chance did he have to get it right?
“You okay?” Ronnie asked, frowning. “I didn’t make it worse, did I? Dana Sue will have my hide if I did.”
“You just said some things I needed to hear,” Gabe told him.
Ronnie’s expression turned even more worried.
“Is there something else?” Gabe asked him.
“Just that I had a call from a friend of mine the other day, a man I worked for in construction while I was away from Serenity. In fact, he helped me put together the plans and money for me to get this store up and running again.”
Gabe wondered what that could possibly have to do with him.
Ronnie hesitated. “I’m not sure if this is the right time to get into this.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s looking for a new construction crew foreman down in Beaufort,” Ronnie explained. “He’d heard good things about you and wondered if I knew you.”
Gabe stilled at that. Here it was, the chance to move on, perhaps, to get yet another fresh start away from a community that until recently had held only bad memories.
“What did you tell him?” he asked Ronnie.
“That what I’ve seen of your work is excellent and that you’re the kind of man who’d fit right in with the tight ship he runs. But I also told him that you had some ties that might keep you here.” He studied Gabe. “Was I wrong about that?”
Gabe thought of Adelia and the unexpected, amazing way she made him feel. He thought of Selena, Tomas, of Juanita and Natalia. If he left, he’d be giving Selena one more reason not to trust the adults in her life. If he left, who would teach Tomas all the things he was so eager to learn about guy stuff? And who, pray tell, would sit in a feather boa and a tiara at a tea party with Juanita and Natalia?
And then he thought of Mitch, who’d taken a chance on him, who was depending on him as backup now with a baby on the way and more work than ever on his plate. How could he bail on him?
None of that, though, seemed to dull the familiar temptation to take off for yet another fresh beginning in a town where h
e had no ties at all, no responsibilities except to himself.
“Have him give me a call,” he said eventually. “It’s worth listening to what he has to say.”
Ronnie looked disappointed by his response, but he nodded. “I’ll tell him to call. His name’s Butch. He gets to town every so often to check on this place. He’s Mary Vaughan’s uncle, too, so he and his wife like to stop by and watch her trying to juggle her booming real estate career and a toddler. Given Mary Vaughan’s type A personality, they consider that to be an excellent form of entertainment.”
Since Gabe had watched a very frustrated Mary Vaughan trying to coax her child into her car one afternoon, he totally got that. The kid had more stubbornness than Mary Vaughan, and she excelled at it. She just called it persistence in her own case.
“I appreciate the good word,” he told Ronnie.
“Not a problem, but one more piece of advice,” Ronnie said as Gabe started to leave. “Think long and hard before you walk away from what you’ve found here. I didn’t think before I left. I let Helen convince me that Dana Sue and Annie needed space, that having me here would only be a reminder of the mistakes I’d made. I came to regret listening to her.”
“Believe me, I won’t be thinking about anything else,” Gabe told him.
He knew what his pattern was. He knew what the old Gabe would have done. There was safety and comfort in that decision. There was nothing safe or comfortable about staying here.
But there was Adelia. There were four kids he’d come to love. And there was family. Was he brave enough to believe in all that and take a chance on something he’d never dared to hope might be in the cards for him?
* * *
Dana Sue insisted that the court ruling deserved to be celebrated. “You’re all coming to Sullivan’s right now,” she announced outside the courthouse. “Brunch is on me.”
“Who could say no to that?” Helen said eagerly. “I’ll get to sneak into the kitchen and hang out with my honey. It’ll be like old times.”
“Old times?” Adelia asked.
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